mfl: What trends, technically, support the implementation of the topic?
Haake: Human error is one of the main causes of accidents. But with "electronic guardian angels", which are based on new technological developments such as ultrasound, radar, lidar, RFID and UWB, effective safety measures can be installed. These safety and assistance systems create protection zones around people and vehicles and warn of danger or slow down the truck in dangerous areas.

mfl: Which products has your company developed for this purpose in particular?
Haake: The ELOprotect mobile personal protection system protects people in narrow aisles. In the field of driver assistance systems, Elokon offers ELOshield, a radio-based identification system for personal warning and collision
and ELOspeed, a radar-based product for automatically reducing the speed of forklift trucks during the transition from outdoor to indoor operation. ELOfleet is particularly suitable for better management of mixed fleets. It handles access control, records violent damage and evaluates vehicle and fleet performance data.

mfl: What other developments can we expect this year?
Haake: ELOfleet4, the world's first smartphone-based fleet management system that is controlled by an app, was recently presented at LogiMAT. It enables the app to be used cost-effectively on existing smartphones and tablets. Vehicle localization will also play an increasingly important role in the future. Mesh networks, which will improve vehicle and occupational safety, are a promising development for indoor operations. And the new smart vest from Elokon can replace the ELOshield personal module for maximum employee safety in the warehouse.

Four questions for Dieter Gabriel, Marketing Manager EMEA, Velodyne Europe

material flow: Are you observing that the issue of safety in the warehouse is becoming more important and if so, why?
Dieter Gabriel: The advancing automation of conveyor and warehouse technology poses new challenges for warehouse logistics as a whole: Industrial trucks of the future will work increasingly autonomously. Powerful and reliable sensors are essential in order to recognize and process objects. 3D LiDAR technology is becoming indispensable.

mfl: What trends, technically, support the implementation?
Gabriel: 3D lasers offer a flexible alternative to conventional 2D sensors for navigating indoor and outdoor logistics vehicles. Multi-channel lasers capture the environment in 3D with high accuracy and range, and enable new applications. A long range is particularly advantageous for outdoor applications, as this enables safe operation even in difficult weather conditions. The advantages for conveyor and storage technology are obvious: greater safety and increased productivity. Multi-channel LiDAR technology provides the high-resolution information needed for increased safety and autonomy in warehouse logistics.

mfl: Which products has your company developed in particular for this?
Gabriel: Velodyne LiDAR is the market leader in 3D laser sensors for automotive applications - the experience gained from millions of kilometers of road travel also enables the most advanced AGV applications. The advantages of the sensors include cost reduction, flexible 3D vehicle navigation without markers/reflectors, navigation on uneven surfaces, load handling (assisted order picking) and enhanced human-machine interaction.

mfl: What other developments can we expect this year?
Gabriel: We will be introducing the VelaDome, a close-range sensor with a small form factor. It has a 180° x 180° Field of View (FoV), which is unique in the industry, and also detects very close objects. The range is 40 meters, the visible height outside the vehicle chassis is only 3.2 cm.

Four questions for Ute Filippone, Business Manager EMEA & UK, I.D. Systems

© EMEA & UK, I.D. Systems

material flow: Is the issue of safety becoming more important in the warehouse?
Ute Filippone: Safety is an elementary basic need and has become all the more important for the professional environment in addition to the private sphere. Never before have so many technical aids been available for the rapid completion of various work steps as today. We must therefore not allow even one accident - of any magnitude - to occur on such a busy goods handling platform as a warehouse.

mfl: What trends support the implementation?
Filippone: Industrial trucks are one of the biggest sources of danger in a warehouse. Firstly, the vehicles and equipment themselves, and secondly the interfaces where man and machine meet. Many help and assistance systems have now been developed to point out these danger zones, such as warning lights or alarm devices.

mfl: What products have you developed for this?
Filippone: I.D. Systems has been a specialist in manufacturer-independent and intelligent fleet management systems for over a quarter of a century. With features such as access control, electronic security checklists and violent damage sensors, you are primarily pursuing the goal of increasing security in the operation of industrial trucks. In addition, their use increases the sense of responsibility of each individual driver or operator.

mfl: What other developments can we expect this year?
Filippone: True to our slogan "Creating a Culture of Safety", the focus for 2019 will be on safety in smaller fleets. We are virtually rounding off our product range at the bottom and, in addition to PowerFleet Enterprise, our multifunctional, high-end fleet management system for large, multi-site fleets, we now offer two new, smart management solutions under the PowerFleet brand name. PowerFleet Essence is our entry-level safety solution. The system is suitable for small forklift fleets (+- 10 vehicles) and is already available. Data management and control are carried out via an app, without IT networking. PowerFleet Expert, the next higher system development for medium-sized fleets, will be delivered in the second quarter. Data transfer and processing work here via WLAN, and fleet managers manage their fleet in our management software via browser login.